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→Diaconal ministry: see discussion
== Diaconal ministry ==
The deacon ministers to the [[priest]] and [[bishop]] in the divine services and assists in the celebration of the [[mysteries]] of the Church. A deacon may not, however, celebrate the mysteries by himself. Unlike in the west today, where all the deacon’s functions at High Mass can carried out by a priest, in the Orthodox Liturgy only a real deacon can perform the some of the diaconal functions.
With the blessing of the presiding priest or bishop, the deacon leads the people in the collective prayers and reads from the Holy Scriptures during the divine services. He is also responsible for the decorum of the public worship and calls the people to attention at appropriate times.
